SB-23-31-001 Front Suspension Lateral Link May Separate – 2018-2019 Tesla Model 3

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March 31, 2023 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 23V235000

Front Suspension Lateral Link May Separate

A lateral link separation could shift the wheel alignment, causing instability and increasing the risk of a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V235

Manufacturer Tesla, Inc.

Components SUSPENSION

Potential Number of Units Affected 422

 

Summary

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Model 3 vehicles. The front suspension lateral link fasteners may loosen, allowing the lateral link to separate from the sub-frame.

 

Remedy

Tesla Service will tighten or replace the lateral link fasteners as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 30, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla’s number for this recall is SB-23-31-001. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 21V-835.

 

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

 

Check if your Tesla has a Recall

 


SB-23-31-001
April 14, 2023

Inspect Front Lower Lateral Links

 

Condition

On certain Model 3 vehicles, the bolts that secure the front lower lateral links to the subframe may need to be retorqued
to internal specification.

 

Correction

Inspect and confirm that all bolts that secure the front lower lateral links to the subframe are torqued to internal
specification. Re-torque the bolts to specification as needed. If necessary, replace the front subframe and/or the front
lateral links.

NOTE: Mobile Service can only perform inspection of the front lower lateral link bolts (refer to Inspection Only (Mobile Service)). If the bolts are properly torqued, Mobile Service can close the bulletin by using Correction Code S132131003. If any bolts are not properly torqued, the vehicle must be towed to a Service Center for any additional work required; use Correction Code 31000010 to track labor for the inspection. The bulletin should remain open, and should be closed by the Service Center after the repair is performed.

 

Parts Required

If Necessary

Part Number Description Quantity
1109263-00-B NUT&WSHR[SW],M14x1.5,[10],ZNFL,PTP 2
1111145-00-A NUT,HF,M10-1.5,[10],ZNNI,PTP 4
1456640-00-A DBL,HF,M14x120+M10x16,CMAT,[109],ZNFL 2
1461654-00-A BOLT,HF,M10-1.5×94,[109],ZNFL,CMAT 2
1461643-00-A BOLT,HF,M12-1.75×99,[109],ZNFL,CMAT 2
1111543-00-A NUT,HF,M12-1.75,[10],ZNNI,PTP 2
1109912-00-A BOLT,HF,M14-2.0×65,STL[109],ZNFL 1–4
1044341-00-D FR LWR LATERAL LINK ASSY 1–2
1111151-00-A BOLT,HF,M10-1.5×30,[109],ZNFL,SMAT 2
Dual Motor Vehicles
1115558-00-A NUT&WSHR[SW],M24, STL[8],ZNFL,SERR 2
1117669-00-A BOLT,5-LOBE,M6x19,[109],ZNNI,MAT,PTP,SEAL 2
One of the following:

* 1044531-00-B or

 

FR SUBF ASSY MDL3/Y

 

1

1044531-00-C* FR SUBF ASSY MDL3/Y 1
* 1044521-10-N or FR SUBFRAME STRUCTURE 1
1044521-11-N ** FR SUBF ASSY, MDL3/Y 1

* For front subframes 1044521-00-N with M10 steering gear nuts.

** For front subframes 1044521-00-N and earlier with M8 steering gear nuts.

These part numbers were current at the time of publication. Use the revisions listed or later, unless otherwise specified in the Parts Catalog.

 

Procedure (Service Center)

  1. Remove the front aero shield panel (refer to Service Manual procedure 12030102).
  2. Perform a torque check on the bolts that attach the LH and RH front lower lateral links (4 bolts total) to the front subframe (115 Nm) (Figure 1).

 CAUTION: Check that the bolt heads are fully flush with the lateral link flanges and that there are no gaps between the bolt heads, flanges, and subframe. Gaps between these components are a sign of possible cross threading and should be investigated.

 

  • If all 4 bolts are already torqued to specification and no signs of cross threading are observed, the subframe does not need replacement. Take note and skip to step 7.
  • If any of the 4 bolts are missing, damaged, not already torqued to specification, or if signs of cross threading are observed, continue to step 3.
  1. Inspect the front lateral link and front subframe to lateral link attachment point (Figure 2), noting damage such as cracks, bent arms/flanges, or damaged bolts.

 

  • If damage to the front subframe has been observed in steps 2 or 3 (such has cross threading, cracks, bent arms/flanges, or damaged bolts), take note and skip to step 6.
  • If damage to the front subframe is not observed, take note and continue to step 4.
  1. Remove any damaged front lower lateral links, and then hand tighten new lateral link(s) to the front knuckle and front strut. Do not attach the new lateral link(s) to the front subframe yet (refer to Service Manual procedure 31013402).
  2. Where the front lateral link to subframe bolt(s) were missing, damaged, or not torqued to specification, attempt to install new bolt(s) (115 Nm) (Figure 1).

 CAUTION: Check that the bolt heads are fully flush with the lateral link flanges and that there are no gaps between the bolt heads, flanges, and subframe. Gaps between these components are a sign of possible cross threading and should be investigated.

  • If all new bolts can be torqued to specification and no signs of cross threading are observed, the front subframe does not need replacement. Take note and skip to step 6.
  • If any of the new bolts cannot be torqued to specification, or if signs of cross threading are observed, the front subframe needs replacement. Take note and continue to step 6.
  1. Replace all parts noted as damaged.

 CAUTION: If new front lateral link(s) were installed in step 4, make sure to fully torque the fasteners that attach the front lateral link(s) to the front knuckle and front strut (refer to Service Manual procedure 31013402).

  • RWD Front Subframe (refer to Service Manual procedure 30010302).
  • Dual Motor Front Subframe (refer to Service Manual procedure 30010312).
  • LH and/or RH Front Lower Lateral Link (refer to Service Manual procedure 31013402).
    • NOTE: If replacing a lateral link AND a front subframe, replace the link after the subframe has been removed from the vehicle.
    • NOTE: If the lateral links were replaced in step 4, there is no need to replace them again.
  1. Install all parts that were removed for access.

  

Inspection Only (Mobile Service)

  1. Chock the RH rear wheel (Figure 3).

 

  1. Remove the LH front wheel cap (refer to Service Manual procedure 34015021).
  2. Loosen the LH front wheel.

 

  1. Raise and support the LH front of the vehicle with a floor jack (refer to Service Manual procedure 10001105).
  2. Remove the LH front wheel lug nuts, and then remove the LH front wheel from the vehicle.
  3. Repeat step 1 through step 5 to lift the RH front of the vehicle.
  4. Remove the bolts (x4) that attach the corners of the front aero shield panel to the vehicle (Figure 4).

WARNING: Do NOT work under the vehicle to remove the bolts.

 

  1. Perform a torque check on the bolts that attach the LH and RH front lower lateral links (4 bolts total) to the front subframe (115 Nm) (Figures 5-7).

 WARNING: Do NOT work under the vehicle to perform torque check.

 CAUTION: Check that the bolt heads are fully flush with the lateral link flanges and that there are no gaps between the bolt heads, flanges, and subframe. Gaps between these components are a sign of possible cross threading and should be investigated.

 

  • If all 4 bolts are already torqued to specification and no signs of cross threading are observed, the subframe does not need replacement. Install all parts that were removed for access and close this bulletin using Correction Code S132331001.
  • If any of the 4 bolts are missing, damaged, not already torqued to specification, or if signs of cross threading are observed, install all parts that were removed for access, and tow the vehicle to a Service Center for further inspection. Use Correction Code 31000010 to track work performed, but DO NOT close the bulletin.

 

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Chronology :

– From January 2022 to March 16, 2023, Tesla received and investigated customer complaints alleging lateral link separation or unusual noises from lateral links. Investigation into the production records for these vehicles showed all torque and angle values fall within production control limits, but a correlation was identified between vehicles with customer complaints and certain torque and angle record characteristics.

– On March 17, 2023, although the production records do not indicate low torque values or missing bolts, out of an abundance of caution, Tesla made the determination to file a voluntary recall to inspect and repair, as necessary, the population of vehicles identified through the investigation described above.

– From service data covering January 2018 through March 2023, Tesla identified 25 warranty claims and 2 field reports (occurring between January 4, 2019, and December 23, 2022) that are related to or may be related to this condition. Tesla is not aware of any crashes, injuries, or deaths related to this condition.

 


2 Affected Products

Vehicle

MAKE MODEL YEAR
TESLA MODEL 3 2018-2019

 


7 Associated Documents

Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-23V235-3963.PDF 214.146KB

 


Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-23V235-7009.pdf 644.929KB

 


Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-23V235-0749.pdf 417.956KB

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ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-23V235-5508.pdf 131.902KB

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Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2023-2

RCLQRT-23V235-7075.PDF 211.135KB

 


Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2023-3

RCLQRT-23V235-7313.PDF 211.367KB

 


Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2023-4

RCLQRT-23V235-2162.PDF 211.456KB

 


Latest Recalls Documents

For the Latest and Most Recent Recalls Information Visit the link below…

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=23V235&docType=RCL

 


 

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